used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading Lord Wilton had been absent in London for several weeks.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Lord Wilton had been absent in London for several weeks.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
buttverbUS /bʌt/
lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The whirr of the wheel ceased, and Dorothy opened the door.
day-dream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
having the place or position changed
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
drearilyadverb
in a cheerless manner
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Lord Wilton had been absent in London for several weeks.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading GILBERT'S GOOD FORTUNE.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
GilbertnounUS /ˈɡɪlbərt/
a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
GILBERT'SnounUS /ˈɡɪlbərts/
possessive form of “gilbert” — a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading GILBERT'S GOOD FORTUNE.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading GILBERT'S GOOD FORTUNE.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lord Wilton had been absent in London for several weeks.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lord Wilton had been absent in London for several weeks.
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Lord Wilton had been absent in London for several weeks.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading Lord Wilton had been absent in London for several weeks.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
march in a procession
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
not any; not one
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The whirr of the wheel ceased, and Dorothy opened the door.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
ponderingadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːndərɪŋ/
deeply or seriously thoughtful
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
rapnounUS /ræp/
a reproach for some lapse or misdeed
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
riding-whip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
Rushmeres
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
an educational institution
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Lord Wilton had been absent in London for several weeks.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
spinningnounUS /ˈspɪnɪŋ/
creating thread
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
tidingsnounUS /ˈtaɪdɪŋz/
information about recent and important events
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Lord Wilton had been absent in London for several weeks.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading The whirr of the wheel ceased, and Dorothy opened the door.
at the time that
From this reading One bright March morning, Dorothy was alone in the big room at the Farm spinning, and, as usual, pondering over the fate of her absent lover, when her day-dream was disturbed by a sharp rap at the door from the butt end of a riding-whip.
whirrverb
make a soft swishing sound
From this reading The whirr of the wheel ceased, and Dorothy opened the door.
WiltonnounUS /ˈwɪltən/
a carpet woven on a Jacquard loom with loops like a Brussels carpet but having the loops cut to form a close velvety pile
From this reading Lord Wilton had been absent in London for several weeks.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The Rushmeres had received no tidings of Gilbert, and the time would have passed drearily enough for Dorothy, but for her lessons and the increasing work at the school.
